Coachwhips, Frisco's answer to Pussy Galore, are what Fort Thunder transplant John Dwyer does when he's not being half of Frisco's answer to Lightning Bolt in Pink and Brown. Mr. Airplane Man, Boston's answer to the White Stripes and Black Keys, are unique partly due to both members being female. Veteran Spokane garage shticksters the Makers, despite being not at all distinctive, are sometimes referred to as "legendary." At 9. EDDY

Persona first, and all else follows. Les George Leningrad are a nutty performance-art crew that have developed Residential self-contortion anthems, DCC are recently re-formed early-hip-hop mixologists with beats like firmly crossed arms, and the King Cobra are a math-metal band with an indie-pop pedigree. With Rogers Sisters, Ex-Models, Die Monitr Batss, and Battletorn. At 7. WOLK

THE DECEMBERISTSBowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey Street, 212.533.2111

Much like the bands in Athens, Georgia's psychedelically literate Elephant Six collective, the Decemberists make quirky, often caustic chamber pop. Leader Colin Meloy sings about how Los Angeles is "an ocean's garbled vomit on the shore" with a pitch-perfect Belle and Sebastianinfluenced faux-British accent. With French Kicks, Hidden Cameras, Miho, and SoundTeam. At 7. RABER

I'm a little optimistic about this meeting of two grumps. Large Professor's dance with major labels in the mid '90s ended with his debut album in a vault somewhere, followed by a decade or so of pseudo-obscurity. Jean Grae's been battling for industry respect for years, and in LP maybe she'll find a mentor who's made all the mistakes already. At 9. CARAMANICA

Headlining an Absolutely Kosher showcase that also features the Court and Spark and Pinback's Rob Crow, Secaucus's finest will walk the line between divine madness and rock-hero self-involvement. They're even more intense than their densely worked records. Trust the songs, guystrust the songs. At 8:30. CHRISTGAU

THURSDAY OCTOBER 14

AN ALBATROSS+AQUISin-é, 148150 Attorney Street, 212.388.0077

The next wave of screamo: An Albatross play five-meter-changes-a-second hardcore with maximum instrumental density, and Aqui decompress their tempo and strap the cacophony onto dub, Bush Tetrasish punk-funk, and any other suitable vehicle within range. With the Dears, Runner and the Thermodynamics, Officer May, Man Man, Grey Does Matter, and Rag City Dolls. At 7. WOLK

JOHN CALEAvalon, 47 West 20th Street, 212.807.7780

Cale plays the pop sweepstakes in a wonderfully bizarre wayeven his deep-end excursions have a nice feel to them that you admire in a cult artist. On his latest album, he wants to be Björk, which might not be a bad thingshe doesn't always want the job herself. With Mosquitos. At 9. GROSS

CLINIC+JUANA MOLINAIrving Plaza, 17 Irving Place, 212.777.6800

Clinic's Winchester Cathedral doesn't have quite the lost-volumes-of-Nuggets effect of their earlier records, but their deadpan live oomph may help. Juana Molina's murmuring electronic-acoustic Spanish-language digi-folk songs, though, get lacier and more subtly profound with every album. With Sons & Daughters and Adem. At 8:30. WOLK

The men and women in Stockholm's highly recommended Concretes play lush, sugary pop that tends toward the majestic. VHS or Beta, meanwhile, craft bold disco dance-punk that's as relevant as the question in their name. But relevance is for assholesthey're fun! Along with Norwegian singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche and up-and-comers Inouk. At 7. ROSEN

I want to reiterate: Talib Kweli has a Neptunes track on his new album, The Beautiful Struggle, that is hot to death. This is not a Twilight Zone episode. Consider it a vision of a better America. (Also, put out the Killer Mike collabo, son! ) Res is on Talib's album too, but she shines far brighter when not on backup detail. At 11. CARAMANICA

Ted Leo and the boys are always great live: Their Thin LizzymeetsElvis Costello powerpop-rock gems will blow your hair back. Tonight, expect to hear plenty of songs from their brand-new full-length Shake the Sheets. Although they have their moments, the Reputation (which feature Elizabeth Elmore, formerly of Sarge) are the clouds rolling in on Leo's sunny daypretty generic, kind of dreary indie pop. At 7:30. SWITZER

PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAMaxwell's, 1039 Washington Street, Hoboken, New Jersey, 201.653.1703

This election year heralds Love Everybody, the jiggly, rockin' new album from PUSAthe band with the best acronym in the business. With may-be five or six strings total, the trio can make you want to skip in a field of flowers or body-slam stuffed animals. With United State of Electronica. At 9. FURY

FRIDAY OCTOBER 15

. . . AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD+AESOP ROCK+MATES OF STATEBowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey Street, 212.533.2111

Cute: A billing pairs extreme loudness with extreme wordiness. Trail of Dead make a fine racket out of whisper-screamy vocals and swipes from the Who and Daydream Nationera Sonic Youth. The entrancing rhymes of Aesop Rock exude a blue-collar persona that complements his phantasmagoric production, and Mates of State spit just-been-kissed emo-pop enthusiasm in twisting harmony. Also: Sunn O))). At 11. HOARD

David Lowery's going to be a busy man tonight: After running through a selection of both old and new (the band recently released New Roman Times, their first new album in over 10 years) Americana-laced indie-rock songs with Camper Van Beethoven, he'll change hats (and maybe guitars) to front Cracker, his even more sarcastic, radio-friendly (at least back in the '90s) rock outfit. Is this what the world needs now? At 6:30. SWITZER

The Double are one of the most exciting and innovative bands around right now. Their songs are odd, edgy, and compelling, and they seem to draw their breath from some alien atmosphere. Comparisons are toughthe best of the Walkmen and Secret Machines is a starting point. Excepter are also psychedelic, experimental, and strange, and they too may be on to something. At 8. SWITZER

THE FAINTWebster Hall, 125 East 11th Street, 212.353.1600

As the lone disco-synth outfit in Saddle Creek's roster of confessional white dudes with acoustic guitars, the Faint burst out of Omaha with gothy, sexy new wave records (the newest of which is the excellent Wet From Birth) and a brash, ass-shaking live show. With the Good Life and Beep Beep. At 6:30. RABER

THE FALL+COACHWHIPS+PARTS AND LABORNorthsix, 66 North 6th Street, Brooklyn, 718.599.5103

Mancunian from hell Mark E. Smith and his revolving cast of hired guns never fail to terrify and surprise. During last year's tour, a broken hip couldn't stop the show; Smith scowled from a wheelchair while shaking his fist at the audience and reading Dadaist declamations scrawled on the back of an envelope. Energetic openers Coachwhips and Parts and Labor play stripped-down junkyard rock slathered in distortion. With X27. At 8. DAYAL

It's a big show for fans of the post-punk revival. The Fever's dancey glam and the Euro-inspired funky grooves of VHS or Beta may be the evening's big draws, but don't miss the Bravery's new millennial take on New Order synthpop or Controller.Controller's tightly wound, female-led, Canadian version of Wire's fractured dance rock. At 9. RABER

D.C. punks Q and Not U break the Dischord mold on their new album, Power, by bringing a sexy, Prince-ified funk sense and falsetto vocals to their already angsty guitar squall. Tonight they are joined by their arty labelmates El Guapo. Also: Mary Timony, Decahedron, Channels, Food for Animals, Manhunter. At 7:30. RABER

THE SHIP AND PILOTSouthpaw, 125 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, 718.230.0236

Never a man to gig once when he can gig twice, Jon Langford CMJs his Gotham-based touring aggregationMaimone and Goulding you know, Cook you should meet. Also: Meat Purveyors, the Fandanglers, Carolyn Mark. At 9. CHRISTGAU

Stevens and Dunger are both singer-songwriters who have garnered much critical acclaim, and for good reason. Stevens weaves themes of religion, nationalism, and optimism, while Dunger opts for a blues approach centered around dissecting relationships. Both play with passion that evokes Appalachia within every note. At 7:30. AYERS

Von Bondies are sexier than the White Stripes, and so is their sound. They also mine similar sources with less concern for raggedness: Chuck Berry riffs and Stooges mayhem are channeled with Doors-y intensity and harmonized hooks. The Mean Reds outfit their not-bad punk howl with glam trash and new wave sexiness. Also: Rolling Blackouts. At 8. HOARD

Wainwright's bloodlines are reason enough to check her out (sister to Rufus, daughter of Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle), but it's her own impressive soulful voice that gets her much attention. With New York's own pop prince Frank Bango and others. Also: Sharp Things, Tara Angell, Rappaport Account, and Matt Sharp & Golden Boy. At 7. GEMELLI

Baby-core, slow-core, sweet-dream weavers Low long ago moved far beyond such sleepy characterizations, proving themselves one of the greatest, most innovative (and always arty) pop bands in the country. Portland, Oregon's the Thermals give an adrenalized sugar-punk coating to the sing-along tongue of the early-twenties set who might've missed out on the Descendents. Also: Helio Sequence, +/-. At 8. BOSLER

Three young, nervous rock bands that know the value of groove: Oxford Collapse give their loosely knit hooks a swift boot with a swifter punk-disco boom-chik, Prosaics' Aghast Agape has a density and drive that invokes early skinny-tie acts, and Mahjongg stretch and truncate New Order electro-rhythms. With Ben Lee, Pony Up!, and Lion Fever. At 8. WOLK

Coheed and Cambria's album is much more fun if you don't know it's about sci-fi and stuffthey're playing acoustic tonight, so that might be clearer than it usually is. Z-Trip never figured out how to monetize his ability to mash up Rakim and Britney. The Fever are sassy, and Autolux are better than their name suggests. Less thrilling are Sparta's muddled arena emo and Tegan & Sara's wonder-twin folk. With Living Things. At 7. CARAMANICA

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